Title: Machine
Author: Julio Ortiz
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 9781984513908
Pages: 100
Genre: Fiction / Thriller Crime
Reviewed by: Susan Milam
Pacific Book Review Star
Awarded to Books of Excellent Merit
In his book Machine, author Julio Ortiz creates a mysterious world where people appear to be directed by a force beyond their control. Protagonist Leonardo Cortez investigates a series of random events. Soon, he discovers that the incidents share a common element: all the people involved have tattoos of a robot circuit. Cortez’s enquiry leads him down a path which becomes increasingly convoluted and dangerous.
In the early 2000s, the world is becoming progressively lawless. Frequently, law-abiding citizens take up arms to protect themselves when government fails to do its job. As a young man growing up in Houston, Leonardo Cortez struggles to make the right choices. He falls in with a crowd whose members possess illegal weapons and frequent cocaine houses. Over time, Leo learns that his companions aren’t true friends; they are loyal only to themselves and satisfying their own needs. He accepts a gun from one of these young men and, as a result, almost takes the fall for a violent crime. Silvestre, Leo’s father, sends Leo to Chicago to get him away from the bad influences that surround him. In Chicago, Leo meets Arthur Garcia, a former soldier now studying to be a police officer. Arthur teaches Leo the difficult art of self-discipline. After a stint in the military, Leo becomes a police officer and then joins the FBI’s office in Dallas, Texas. He quickly becomes a star agent, and then wrangles a transfer to Houston.
On its surface, Machine is an FBI procedural that takes place in current times that have a dystopic feel. The story begins as an investigation into the well-catalogued culture of drugs and violence. However, the author quickly turns these standard storylines on their heads by adding the futuristic element of individuals linked by their tattoos and controlled telephonically by an unseen master. In addition, the story charts the journey of Leonardo Cortez as he evolves from a young man making unwise decisions to a well- regarded FBI agent given the task of solving a mysterious set of interlocking crimes. Throughout the book, the author develops the themes of personal responsibility, the need to take action and the essential solitude of the human soul. The story’s twists and turns keep the reader guessing about the true motivations of many of the book’s characters. Ultimately, the careening plot moves pay off with a resolution that satisfies the reader while setting up a possible sequel for Agent Cortez.
Machine holds pleasures for a variety of readers. Folks looking for a crime book will be intrigued by Cortez’s resolute tracking down of the cause behind a spate of violent incidents. People who like their procedurals to have a touch of tech will appreciate the robot circuit tattoo element. Those who want their violence and villains to come with a side order of philosophy will find it served up here. All in all, Machine provides numerous ways to enjoy FBI Agent Leonardo Cortez’s search for the force behind the mysterious robot circuit tattoos. Machine is an intriguing, mildly complex, thoroughly interesting crime thriller that will be difficult to put down.
Follow Us